According to data from energy watchdog ANRE, Romania’s gas needs were 20% lower in 2013 against 2008, the peak year of the local economy.
As a result, the weight of Russian imports slid from 32% of domestic consumption in 2008 to just 15% last year. At present, during a summer month imports cover only 5% of industry’s gas needs.
The downward trend of consumption maintains this year as well and the share of imports has fallen to single digits for the first time. For June, ANRE endorsed an import quota of just 2% for household consumers and of 5% for non-household consumers. The rest is covered from local production.
Thus, Romania has grown almost independent from deliveries from abroad, which is beneficial for consumers, especially as price hikes are expected in the coming months due to the full process of gas price deregulation.
Russian gas destined to Romania still reached the country after Russian giant Gazprom decided to halt deliveries to Ukraine because of the country’s almost $2 billion debts.
“Flows are normal. Should there be disruptions, we’d know immediately,” sources inside Transgaz, the national gas transmission company, told ZF.
There are growing fears that Ukraine may curb transit to the other European destinations in a bid to keep part of gas for its own consumption.
Romania has bought Russian gas ever since 1979 and quantities delivered since then have gone beyond 125 billion cubic meters, ten times the current total demand. During the 35 years, there were few delivery disruptions, most recently during the winters of 2005-2006 and 2008-2009, amid price conflicts between Ukraine and Russia.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)